Epilogue
TWO YEARS LATER
JAX
Istare at the words on the contract, and my vision blurs from the tears that I’m holding back. This might be the last contract I sign as a professional hockey player. Not only could this be my final contract, but it’s with a team that I never thought I would sign with.
“Welcome to the Kelowna Lynxes, Jax Morrow and family. We’re ecstatic to have you here,” Rhys Wilson says to me before smiling into the camera.
We’re sitting at a table in front of a media backdrop in the Lynxes’ home office.
Their media team is filming us signing my contract to announce our new deal.
“It’s great to be here,” I tell him. “As someone who was born and raised in Kelowna, this is a dream come true to not only play for my home team, but to possibly end my professional career here as well.”
“Let’s make it official, shall we?” Rhys lifts his chin toward the contract, which was previously reviewed by my agent and lawyer, so I know all the terms of the two-year, ten-million-dollar deal.
As I sign my name, I’m relieved that this process is finally over.
I thought signing with Kelowna was going to be a no-brainer, but it was actually one of the hardest decisions I had to make because the last two years in Chicago have been some of the best years of my life.
After Kiley agreed to be my girlfriend, she and Zander came back home, and we converted their room to be solely his. It took Zander some time to adjust, and there were many nights he ended up in our bed, but he finally got used to his living arrangements.
The team made the playoffs, and when that happened, it turned on a totally different switch in us.
Adrenaline took over, masking our injuries, and we managed to win the first three rounds of the playoffs to become the Western Conference Champions.
We fought tooth and nail. The vision of hoisting the Cup making us chomp at the bit, but unfortunately, New York was the better team that year, and we lost the Cup in game seven during overtime.
It was a heartbreaking loss, but getting that close to winning the Cup made me train even harder for the next season.
Kiley and Zander came back to Kelowna with me for one month, and they fell in love with it and Vancouver.
They got to bond with my parents and sister before heading back to Chicago to get ready for school.
I stayed back in Kelowna for two additional weeks to take Chloe on one of our father/daughter trips before she started her new high school.
Because of Kiley and Zander, I had considered staying in Chicago, but the Phoenixes’ General Manager made it clear he wasn’t ready to start negotiating until after the next season was over.
While his decision didn’t surprise me, I started feeling anxious from not knowing where I was going and how that was going to affect Kiley and Zander.
Kiley, being her amazing self, assured me that I had no reason to worry.
She and Zander will follow me wherever I go, and that I just needed to focus on my upcoming season.
Patrick transferred to his firm’s Chicago offices to be closer to Zander.
He and Kiley agreed to a shared joint legal custody, and Kiley retained primary physical custody.
Their parenting agreement had Zander staying with his dad every other week.
It was an adjustment for Kiley sharing Zander with Patrick, and that first month of the new arrangement had her crying every time Patrick took him.
Seeing how happy Zander was after he hung out with his dad helped Kiley get past her struggles.
Patrick has adjusted well to Chicago and even has a girlfriend that we all like.
Us moving to Kelowna will change Patrick’s schedule with Zander, but he was granted permission to work remotely two weeks out of the month.
Patrick will work in Kelowna for those two weeks and live in one of my properties so he can see Zander.
Knowing that I had Kiley’s love and support, I started my last season in Chicago with mental clarity.
Having a taste of what it’s like being in the Cup finals is exhilarating and addictive.
Being so close to winning the ultimate dream of any hockey player’s professional career bonds you with your teammates.
That combination, along with smart off-season moves by the front office, made us unstoppable.
We won the Cup in game six of the finals.
The victory parade through downtown Chicago was an experience I’ll never forget.
I had a feeling the Phoenixes were not going to re-sign me, and when Creed reported back that Chicago was not going to put in an offer once I became a free agent, I was not surprised.
While Chicago wanted a repeat of winning the Cup, they wanted to do it with younger, faster players.
It was a hard pill to swallow, but that's the life of an athlete.
A week after the parade, I took mine and Kiley’s whole family to Ireland.
I thought Killian would have a heart attack shutting the bar down for a whole week, but he had recently given Keegan the keys to the kingdom.
Keegan hired a new general manager with a background in sports bars to keep the place running while we went away.
It was incredible meeting the entire O’Shea clan and visiting the original O’Shea’s Pub.
The whole trip was a dream come true, especially when Kiley said yes to becoming my wife when I proposed to her in front of our families atop the Cliffs of Moher.
When I had asked for Killian’s blessing six months earlier, he and Kim offered to plan the whole trip and even hired a photographer to capture the moment.
Now here we all are again, gathered in Kelowna for this new chapter. I glance at Kiley, who’s standing with both of our families on the other side of the camera. Tears are in her eyes as she watches me finalize signing my new contract.
I put the pen down, shake hands with Rhys and look square into the camera. “Lynx fans, I hope you’re ready for an unbelievable season and that you come out to support your boys in trying to bring the Cup to Kelowna.”
“And that’s a wrap,” Larkin Dickerson, the Lynxes’ Director of Communications, states after a couple of seconds. “Great job, Jax, and congratulations!.” She looks over at Kiley and the family. “Why don’t we take photos of everyone together to capture this moment?”
I stand up and give each of our family members a hug. Kiley is the last one in line, and as our whole families stand around us, I gather her in my arms and stare into those gorgeous green eyes of hers.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” I question, resting my forehead against hers.
“You’re asking me this after you signed the contract?” she teases. “For the millionth time, I’m more than fine with this. You get to live your lifelong dream, and we get to do this together. We’ll be closer to Chloe and your family. It’s going to be great.”
When Kelowna brought the offer to the table, Kiley didn’t hesitate in saying yes. We agreed to live in Kelowna during hockey season and then in Chicago during the summer. After my contract is up, we’ll re-evaluate where life takes us.
“I know, but I worry about your parents.”
“Jax, you bought them a house here, five minutes from ours. Soon you’re going to get sick of them and wish for them to go back to Chicago.”
I chuckle. “You might be right.”
“Hey.” She places her palm against my cheek and caresses it with her thumb. “I know you’re nervous, and rightfully so, but have faith that this was meant to be. You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.”
“We’re exactly where we’re meant to be.” I stare lovingly into her eyes and secretly thank God again for bringing her into my life. “You and me, to the ends of earth.”
She smiles and gently kisses me. “Always and forever.”